Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Premature Subjects Hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Norrara Scarlytt de Oliveira Holanda, Lidiane Delgado Oliveira da Costa, Sabrinne Suelen Santos Sampaio, Gentil Gomes da Fonseca Filho, Ruth Batista Bezerra, Ingrid Guerra Azevedo and Silvana Alves Pereira
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Norrara Scarlytt de Oliveira Holanda: Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Lidiane Delgado Oliveira da Costa: Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Sabrinne Suelen Santos Sampaio: Post-graduation Program of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Gentil Gomes da Fonseca Filho: Post-graduation Program of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Ruth Batista Bezerra: Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi/ Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (FACISA/UFRN), Santa Cruz 59200-000, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Ingrid Guerra Azevedo: Department of Therapeutic Processes, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4813302, La Araucania, Chile
Silvana Alves Pereira: Physiotherapy Course, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-8

Abstract: Considering that the average age for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 4–5 years, testing screening methods for ASD risk in early infancy is a public health priority. This study aims to identify the risks for development of ASD in children born prematurely and hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and explore the association with pre-, peri- and postnatal factors. Methods : The children’s families were contacted by telephone when their child was between 18 and 24 months of age, to apply the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). The sample consisted of 40 children (57.5% boys). M-CHAT screening revealed that 50% of the sample showed early signs of ASD. Although the frequency of delayed development was higher in boys, this difference was not statistically significant between the sexes ( p = 0.11). Assessment of the association between perinatal conditions and early signs of autism in children hospitalized in an NICU exhibited no correlation between the factors analyzed (birth weight and type of delivery). The findings indicate a high risk of ASD in premature children, demonstrating no associations with gestational and neonatal variables or the hospitalization conditions of the NICUs investigated.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; risk factors; newborn; neonatal intensive care units (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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